Goalkeeper plays dead in failed attempt to avoid a red card

We have all seen examples of players who feign injury after committing a blatant foul in a desperate attempt to gain sympathy from the officials.

However Ecuadorian 'keeper Maximo Banguera decided to take it one step further - and play dead.

Banguera, who has been capped 27 times for the national side, was playing for Barcelona SC against Atletico Nacional in a Copa Libertadores group game on Thursday night.

With the score 1-1 and the game heading into injury time, Atletico forward Jonathan Copete bore down on goal and Banguera knew he had to do something.

Time to take one for the team. He clattered Copete as he was striding through, and knew he had to go into hibernation mode. Clearly, his decision to 'play dead' did not gain much sympathy - not even from his own teammates, as no one really attempts to check on their grief-stricken goalkeeper.

After an impressive 90 seconds of attempting to hold his breath and not move a muscle, he decides enough is enough and gets to his feet - only to find the referee stood centimetres away and brandishing a red card.

Kudos to the official for not even attempting to call for medical assistance for Banguera, and attempting to forcibly shake him 'awake'.

And although the 27-year-old's dismissal may have saved his side for the immediate future, it was merely delaying the inevitable as minutes later Atletico scored again and won the game 2-1. How's that for instant karma?

It's just as well Zlatan Ibrahimovic did not try the same trick on Wednesday night.

What's the most ridiculous example you have seen of a player feigning injury? Let us know in the comments below!

Report author of article

DISCLAIMER

This article has been written by a member of the GiveMeSport Writing Academy and does not represent the views of
GiveMeSport.com or SportsNewMedia. The views and opinions expressed are solely that of the author credited at the top of this article.
GiveMeSport.com and SportsNewMedia do not take any responsibility for the content of its contributors.

Want more content like this?

Like our GiveMeSport Facebook Page and you will get this directly to you.